Three research positions are currently available at the Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center (VBC) starting immediately. We are seeking recent PhDs in any relevant discipline with expertise in each of the following areas (a) Biomedical optical instrumentation and super-resolution microscopy (b) optical imaging and image processing and (c) Neuroscience methods/neurophotonics.
The positions require close interaction with basic scientists as well as clinicians and therefore a confident but pleasant approach is a must. Good written and oral communications are essential for all positions. Eligible candidates will take the lead on the funded project and will also be encouraged to formulate their own research ideas and will be provided infrastructure and mentoring for independent funding.
A brief description of the positions are provided below:
1) Biomedical Microscopy for Innovation and Discovery: In a recently funded project, the VBC seeks to develop novel microscopies that are not available commercially for biological and biomedical applications. We are seeking PhDs with experience in optical instrumentation of non-linear, super-resolution and other optical microscopies. In particular, we are looking for 1 candidate with expertise in optical instrumentation and experience building microscopes and 1 candidate with expertise in software development, image processing and image analysis. The first task of these candidates will be to build a lattice light-sheet microscope ready for core users from cancer and cell biology. The goal of the project is an ongoing development of novel microscopies with continued innovation for facilitating cutting edge discoveries.
2) Neurophotonics: For this project, we are seeking recent PhDs with experience in neuroscience methods and expertise in optical instrumentation. Experience with neuroscience methods including growing neural cells, working in vitro or in vivo animal models (esp. the brain) and experimental approaches such as patch-clamp techniques, electrophysiology methods etc. are critical to the success of the project. Our lab has demonstrated that pulsed infrared light can modulate neural cells and tissues. In this project we seek to evaluate the fundamental biophysical mechanisms by which infrared light triggers a bio-electric response at the cellular and sub-cellular level. The primary objective of this project is to unravel the interplay between the neurobiological signaling, nerve conduction and the spatio-temporal thermal gradient induced by the optical energy using non-linear microscopy and various optical and electrical techniques.
The Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center (VBC) is an interdisciplinary research center at the intersection of the College of Arts and Science, the School of Engineering and the School of Medicine that brings together faculty, post-doctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students dedicated to Biophotonics research. VBC provides a state-of-the-art research facility and environment and includes shared core facilities and resources for research that spans everything from fundamental discovery to clinical translation. Research is organized into 3 thrust areas: Cancer Photonics, Neurophotonics and Multi-scale photonics. Other research interests include application of optical techniques in a variety of other areas such as diabetes research, neonatology, ophthalmology, critical care, surgery, obstetrics, and orthopedics for clinical translation as well as fundamental research. Further, since many of our team are engineers and physicists, research is also focused on the discovery of new optical methodologies and the support needed to advance current technologies to new levels
The Department of Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University provides the rare opportunity of working closely with clinicians, biologists, chemists, neuroscientists and statisticians not only by the nature of the interdisciplinary research conducted in VBC but also by geography as the School of Medicine as well as the College of Arts and Sciences are all within close proximity of the School of Engineering (100-200 yards). The lab has easy access to the renowned Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt Brain Institute and the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science. Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunities employer
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